Author(s): Dr. Lizmitha Godwin and Dhivya Benny

Abstract:
Water is an inevitable part of life. Without water survival is not possible. Drinking water patterns are different among different people. Pure drinking water consumption is very much important as water is required for the body to carry out several functions and activities. But it is difficult to get potable water pure. Due to the industrial and chemical effluents, water sources are contaminated and the water consumption of such contaminated sources can lead to several water borne diseases. So people depend on several methods to purify water such as boiling and chlorinating. In Kerala most people believes that boiling is the best way to purify water as it is cheap, effective method for the purification of water. So while boiling these people tends to add several medicinal plants such as tulsi, fenugreek, pathimugham, cinnamon, coriander, triphala, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, green tea seeds, cloves, ginger etc. Each medicinal plant possesses its own properties and uses. They may help to prevent several diseases and also helps to purify water. The study was undertaken with the objectives the objectives were to find the water consumption pattern, treatment methods and its benefits. The study was conducted among sixty students, the major findings were that 72% used medicinal plants for treating water. They frequently used plants were tulsi, pathimugham, cinnamon, coriander seeds and green tea. Incidence of cough and cold reduced among users of medicinally treated water.